Mobilitet, kultur og kjønn

Om forskningsgruppen

The research cluster "Mobility, culture, and gender" involves researchers from the Department of Global Development and Planning (IGUS) and the Department of Sociology and Social work (ISS) as well as associated members. The group members represent different academic disciplines, including development studies, sociology, social anthropology, religion and philosophy, human geography, political science, and medicine. Moreover, through its group members, the research cluster encompasses a wide range of geographical and contextual experiences, both from the Norwegian/Nordic context and from various countries in the Global South.

The research group has emerged because of a joint interest in mobility, culture, and gender as (interlinked) topics for research. These topics are also relevant for the University's educational programs, such as the BA and Masters' program in Global Development and courses in Sociology and Social Work and Adult Education Courses at the faculty. Our different research experiences have generated discussions about impacts of migration and mobility in different geographical and cultural contexts, as well as on the meanings of gendered practices, gender relations and gender equality in different cultural contexts. Linking mobility and gender, we also focus on the role of gender in the context of mobility where new situations and cultures have a strong influence on everyday life. Furthermore, we do research on gender, family and work life, including a project on gender in academia with UiA as the case (Balanse).

In our research group, there is a general belief that research should relate intimately to the field of practice and that we as researchers need to start out in the everyday life, i.e. the doings and perceptions of people themselves, to generate knowledge that will be of importance to people. Thus, implicitly lies an understanding that results need to be communicated back in such a way that research leads to changes ultimately benefiting underprivileged groups.

Our different experiences from long-term fieldwork at home and abroad provides a good starting point for comparison and comparative reflection, particularly when entering the field of integration. For those of us who come from the field of development studies, we find that studying mobility and social integration of ethnic minority groups provides a new and interesting turn for development studies, as it brings new dimensions and perspectives into the discussion and research on North/South relations. Some of the members of the group are therefore involved both in research on mobility, gender, gender equality and social integration in Norway, as well as in projects exploring gender and changing gender relations in a development context. Members of the research clusters are mainly qualitative researchers working with ethnographic methods. Furthermore, we have a collaboration with modelers to combine ethnography, modeling, and simulation in exploring civic engagement and citizen initiatives.

The research cluster currently has on-going projects in Norway as well as in Africa and Asia. We also have a project running in Lesvos, Europe.

Researching resource groups for refugees in the Lindesnes region in Agder (2016-2018). Financed by fylkesmannen i Agder and the Lindesnes region.

Exploring integration as emplaced practice, Lindesnes, Vest-Agder (2016-2018). A collaboration with the University of Malmö. Financed by RFF Agder, the Centre for Gender and Equality, the Lindesnes region and Agderforskning.

Refugee men and their everyday life concerns: Exploring masculinities in Arendal municipality (2016-2018) Financed by Pro-Nett, UiA.

Gender and equality in work life

Becoming a (female) professor. Research in connection with the BALANSE project at the University of Agder (BALANSE) (2015- ongoing). Financed by the Norwegian Research Council and the University of Agder.

Publikasjoner

Utvalgte internasjonale publlikasjoner

Baker, J. and Wallevik, H. (2014) "Changing lifeworlds and contested space: Seclusion practices among the Iraqw of Northern Tanzania" in Bouju, J. and de Bruijn, M. (eds.) Ordinary Violence and Social Change in Africa. Brill: The Netherlands.

Haaland H. and H. Wallevik (2017) "Citizens as actors in the development field: The case of an accidental Aid Agent's activities in aid land" in Forum for development studies Vol. 44 2017. Routledge: London

Haaland H. and H. Wallevik (in review) "Beyond emergency management? The role of Citizen Initiatives in humanitarian aid. The case of Lesvos". Special issue. Third World Quarterly

Haaland, H. and Wallevik H. (forthcoming 2019) "Travelling ideas and ideals - credit unions as bargainers of ideals of individuality. The case of West Kalimantan Indonesia"

Relevant PhD-utdanning

Andre aktiviteter

1) Dissemination and outreach

We disseminate research results at different arenas, from international and national conferences with papers and panels to more regionally based arenas. As a research group working closely with the practice field, we are obliged to disseminate results in municipalities, at regional workshops, local conferences, and network meetings.

2) Conference participation and networking events

For the development portfolio, we have through the last 5 years been present at the NFU (Norwegian association for development studies) and EADI (European Association for Development Research and Training Institutes) conferences organizing panels alone and with our Dutch partners. We have also attended the ARNOVA (Association for Research on Non-Profit Organizations and Voluntary Action) conferences two years in a row, organizing panels with Dutch and American partners. In 2018 we also attended IASFM (International Association for the Study of Forced Migration) in Thessaloniki for the first time, also here with American and Dutch partners. In 2019 we plan for a European conference on citizen initiatives with partners from European countries. As part of our collaboration with researchers in Netherlands and England, we also participate in publication workshops, the first one in Sussex in 2018. The upcoming publication workshop will be at UiA in 2019.
In projects related to integration we have had network meetings locally and we will also in December 2019 attend a larger network meeting in Trondheim. Here national researchers meet to discuss projects on inclusion and integration of refugees and immigrants. Further joint funding opportunities will also be explored. Research group members will also participate and present research results at the national end-conference on the Balanse project on gender equality in academia hosted by UiA on the 7th of December 2019.

3) Ma students and Ph.D. students

We have Ph.D. students and MA students linked to our research group through supervision and research work.

4) Practice students and students in projects

We have had practice students from Norway and Denmark linked to research activities within this research group. So far Minela Kosuta, Nathja Røsvik and Camilla Aglen have been collaborating with us as MA students in practice. We have also had several students in projects financed by the faculty.

5) Guest researchers

We have had several guest researchers staying with us at the institute for joint publications and proposal work. They have also been teaching at BA and MA level.